Month: August 2016

Grab your coat and get your hat….leave your worries on the door step

 And go..it’s tomorrow

AMADEUS on the Plaza 

under the stars at 7:45 in the evening and Free!

 

  That gorgeous Oscar winning movie kicks off the HD Festival.

CHECK  MY PREVIOUS  POST (July 26th)  ON  THE HD FESTIVAL THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ AGAIN – OR NOT – AND JUST WING IT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME…. I’LL BE THERE – MAYBE I’LL SEE YOU…. I, OF COURSE, AM THE ONE WITH THE WINE AND POPCORN!

And on Saturday night – Le Nozze di Figaro and Sunday Il Trovatore

A great line up of operas streaming on the Plaza from the 26th thru September 5th  will  include: Le Nozze di Figaro, il Trovatore, Otello, La Fille du Regiment, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Cenerentola (Cinderella)  Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci (2 different operas) The Merry Widow, Turandot, and last  Les Pecheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers).  Go to  The Met website  more info on each opera.http://www.metopera.org/user-information/summer-hd-festival/

Have fun – Enjoy!   Love this City!

Disclaimer – I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.  

An Inside Walk Worth Taking

 

NO UMBRELLAS NEEDED ON THIS WALK!

The Oculus at WTC
Inside The Oculus-Photo by me

I was with my Tribeca family and we walked from their apartment thru Brookfield Place down the escalators across the walk and onto Westfield which recently opened in the soaring space of The Oculus.

The Oculus!  The Transportation Hub at the World Trade Center designed by the internationally renowned architect  Santiago Calvatrava of Spain.

I thought it was stunningly beautiful!  How do you combine a subway station and a mall into a grand open shining space…call on a famous architect that’s what you do.  Amazing!

Best way to do this walk?  I always suggest to check out websites to see what’s happening not only at Westfield, but also at Brookfield Place. They are connected and  you’ll never have to go outside. Often special events are taking place that will just add to the fun.   This is not a quiet walk, but it sure is exciting, especially the first time you do it.   By the way, stopped at the new Eataly and enjoyed a lovely wine  and pizza with my family overlooking the World Trade Center and the new Liberty Park.

It’s a huge place so when you go be sure to plan your day, don’t rush,  people-watch, perhaps  walk over  to Brookfield Place and take in a view of the Hudson or do it all in reverse.  Along your way, you’ll find many places to stop for something to eat plus, of course, a glass of wine or an old-fashioned to  give  your feet a rest and decide where  your next steps will take you on this inside walk!

oculus 10

Enjoy!

Kay’s Notes:

Important to know: It can get a little crazy during commuting times – so keep in mind it is a transportation hub.

Websites:  About The Oculus,  Westfield  and Brookfield Place

http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/transportation-hub.html

https://www.westfield.com/westfieldworldtradecenter

https://brookfieldplaceny.com/

Cost:  Seeing the buildings- free. shopping, eating and drinking? As the old song goes sung by Frank Sinatra and Ruth Etting (back in the day)  “It all depends on you”!

Where to eat:  A huge selection of places- as of this post – not all opened but will be very soon.

Restrooms: Plenty

Kid Friendly:  Without a doubt

 

*Disclaimer – I try for correct info on Kay’s Notes– but no guarantees people.

 

IT WAS HOT, BUT OH SO COOL!

Temperatures about 100 – with humidity to match, but we were all there raising our voices to…. the public domain!    It was spectacular  and I consider myself so very fortunate to have been part of this once in a lifetime event– all sweating together and having a glorious  time!

The "public domain" chorus gathers at Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center on Saturday in New York, NY.

I couldn’t have said it better….. taken from Today’s August 15th New York Times review by critic Anthony Tommasini…..“By the time the singers had taken their places round the fountain, an audience of roughly 2000 had arrived, despite the sweltering humidity.  True to its title, “the public domain” was an inspiring outdoor musical event; it also proved an intricate, rich musical composition.”

As a very personal note – I received a text from my sister who said, “Dad, would have loved this.”   She was so right, our father absolutely loved music of all kinds – and this event would have caused him much joy, as it did me.

I love this City!

Kay’s Notes:

Important to know: google  http://mostlymozart.org/thepublicdomain you will find  a video from Lincoln Center on the making of “the public domain”and the performance.

Maybe ….. Interesting to know: When you go to the site, it opens with photos of some of us…. I’m on the top row – number 3 – behind the word “domain”….taken at the last rehearsal at the John Jay College gymnasium.

Disclaimer – I try for correct info on Kay’s Notes – but no guarantees people.

 

999 Singers And Me This Saturday at 5 – the public domain!

 

 

 

From the website

“One of the defining qualities of the Mostly Mozart Festival is the warm, enthusiastic bond that exists between performers and audiences. This year, which marks 50 years of the festival, we celebrate this beautiful relationship with the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner David Lang’s ambitious choral work the public domain. Presented outdoors on Lincoln Center’s iconic campus, the work honors the collective knowledge that connects us all, bringing together 1,000 volunteer vocalists for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Conducted by Simon Halsey, Choral Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, with local conductors leading rehearsals across New York City, the public domain is a groundbreaking work of unprecedented scale”

Kay’s Notes:  There will be a video on line 48 hours following the performance.  Remember – it’s free.  I’ll be wearing my hat!

Summer Streets Starts Today FREE! …Kay’s Free Pick

 

PARK AVENUE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC  FOR SUMMER STREETS

ONLY ON SATURDAYS – THREE DATES – TODAY AUGUST 6TH, AUGUST 13TH AND THE 20TH FROM 7 AM TO 1 PM!
Summer Streets 2016

Summer time and the walking is easy!

It’s fun to do.  Lots of activities like  music, a water slide, games, Zipline  and lots and lots of people.  But, only walkers, bikers, roller bladers, scooters, strollers, skater boarders, etc., are allowed.    And, because I live on the UES, a stop at St Bart’s outside restaurant for a Mimosa is definitely in order to stay cool and watch the fun! Event is free – the Mimosa ??? Nope!

Citi Summer Streets Returns to NYC: Saturday’s 8/6, 8/13 & 8/20

From Summer Streets 2016 website -NYC Department of Transportation. Check it out – website below

“Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, run, walk and bike. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2015, nearly 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets.

Summer Streets is modeled on other events from around the world including Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia and the Paris Plage in France and has since inspired other such events around the world such as CicloRecreo Via and London’s Regent Street Summer Streets.

Held between 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy access from all points in New York City, allowing participants to plan a trip as long or short as they wish. All activities at Summer Streets are free of charge, and designed for people of all ages and ability levels to share the streets respectfully.

Summer Streets is a project of the New York City Department of Transportation.”

Kay’s Notes: This post is a little late for today’s events – but in plenty of time for the 13th and the 20th. 

Important to know:  It’s a great walk – see the City along Park Avenue from a different perspective.   Police are very helpful because cars still want to go cross town – and there are volunteers  with signs that say “stop” or “go” or something like that.    Definitely check out the website to see where along the route the activities take place.

Restrooms – Hotels along the way – couldn’t find if they are having any of those portable conveniences.  But  plenty of Starbucks and other restaurants a block east or west of Park.

Remember it starts at 7 AM and ends at 1 PM.

Disclaimer – I try for correct info on Kay’s Notes – but no guarantees people.

 

“Too many notes”..said the Emperor

Mark your calendar — “Amadeus” kicks off the Summer HD Festival at The Met Plaza on Friday August 26th at 7:45  — get there early — bring food, a jacket, maybe a small umbrella — check the weather —  and watch the action before the movie even starts!   See you there!

I T ‘ S    F R E E !

Kay’s Notes:

See my post of July 26th for full info on the Festival   “Get ready – the Outdoor Free Summer HD Series starts in August”

Photo of Cover of DVD 

 Disclaimer – I try for correct info on Kay’s Notes– but no guarantees people.

What to do with a teenager visiting the City for the first time since she was three, I ask!

HERE’S WHAT!

Uniqlo and Bloomies, Zara, H & M

A pop up store in SOHO  we went to all of them

We gave a wave to Liberty then ate at Battery Park

Met up with her cousin for  fries at PJ Clark

She walks in Soho with her cousin!

Heading to see “Wicked” on a very stormy night

Traffic traffic everywhere,  did gives us a fright

But rest assured we made it with extra minutes  too

We settled in our seats and both gave out a.. whew!

Made it  home by twelve … like Cindy at the ball

Into bed and ready  for that early morning call

MOMA was exciting with the artist  “It’s all true”

 The temperature was rising,  loved this cool venue

The Guggenheim!   A treasure, thanks to Mr. Wright

Then Lincoln Center and its  Plaza  glowed for us one  night

Along  the shady Central Park, we strolled Fifth Avenue

We saw  Met’s Manus x Machina, so  beautiful to view

A get together with a friend she hadn’t seen in years

Oh those  hugs and kisses and oh those many  tears

But as the famous saying goes, “All good things must  end!”

She left for home, but this I know – she’ll be back again!

IMG_3320

Thanks to my beautiful niece (soon to be 17) for showing me a wonderful time in 4 short days!

 

Kay’s Notes:

Important to know:  Go with the flow- my niece knew what she wanted to do. I just hit the highlights in my little poem…  We spent more time at The Met to see on the roof the replica of the house from Psycho – and The Temple of Dendur.   All the museums were packed because it was that notorious “heat dome’ weekend. We saved for a cooler time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and do the Empire State Bldg among other sites.

I found out when she was leaving that the next time she’s here – she wants to go to several parks – and sketch.   Sounds good to me…. blankets, some food, love it!

Good to know:  Manus x Machina at the Met.  It’s part of the Costume Institute at the Museum and the clothing is beautiful – well worth going to  before it closes  September 5.

*Disclaimer – I try for correct info on Kay’s Notes– but no guarantees people.